HC Deb 29 April 1977 vol 930 c452W
Mr. Beith

asked the Secretary of State State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether it is the policy of his Department to witness documents relating to the Arab trade boycott which include questions as to whether or not any of the directors of the British firms involved are Jews.

Mr. Luard

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office does not witness signatures on export documents required for use in Arab countries. The only action taken by officials in the Department on documents required for use overseas is to certify that they have been signed by a notary public or other official, without taking cognisance of their content. This procedure for authenticating documents for use in a foreign country is normal international practice.

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